I usually don’t cover general PC hardware news but here’s something interesting for sim racing enthusiasts as ATI will be introducing the so-called ATI Eyefinity Technology with their newest line of DirectX 11R adeon graphics cards.

Up until now, sim racers who wanted to use more than two screens in their racing simulators had to use additional hardware like TripleHead2Go to connect their monitors. This is no longer needed with Eyefinity as the newest ATI graphics cards can be connected to multiple screens, allowing the connection of up to six screens with a combined resolution of 8000×8000 pixels.

The technology can be seen at work in the video below, more info on Eyefinity and the possible screen setups can be found on the ATI website. Eyefinity will be introduced with the new range of Radeon 5800-series graphics cards that will be available starting September 23rd.

MMG has put togheter a new preview video of their line of racing displays, showing them in action with rFactor.

Their product line includes the SimRDisp7X both as desktop and Logitec G25 version as well as the new G25-compatible SimRDisp1X. Check out MMG’s webshop for further info on the displays.

Japanese sim hardware experts FREX have added a new product to their line of professional sim racing hardware by unveiling the SimConVBRAKE brake vibration motor.

The SimConVBRAKE is combined with FREX’s SimConBase and adds adjustable brake vibration when locking up tires. The SimConVBRAKE works with all Simbin simulations as well as rFactor, a price for the new product has not yet been set.

Below is a photo of the unit, more info and technical specifications can be found on the FREX website.

 

The imagination among hardware modders in the sim racing community has led to some very interesting projects in the past and the following story is a very remarkable example.

After his Logitech G25 acted up, Semus decided to get himself a Fanatec GT3 RS wheel. While he very much liked the belt-driven wheel, he looked for a way to combine the wheel’s mechanics with the Logitech G25 electronics.

The result of his work can be seen below, now being effectivly a belt-driven Logitech G25. Detailed info on his project and some of the issues Semus had to solve along the way are described in this RSC topic.

 

Following SRT’s very timely review of the Logitech G27 steering wheel, the product has now been officially announced by Logitech.

The G27 picks up where the very popular G25 left off, improving several complaints about its predecessor and adding a bunch of features such as new buttons, the LCD meter as well as the addition of a helical gear system to the Force Feedback system.

Features:

• Dual-motor force feedback mechanism with helical gearing: Experience traction loss, weight shift, and road feel recreated smoothly and accurately, while enjoying the exceptionally quiet steering action.
• RPM/shift indicator LEDs: Keep an eye on the indicator panel to know just when to shift gears for maximum torque (in supported games).
• Sixteen programmable buttons plus D-pad: Map useful game functions to locations that make sense to you—whether on the wheel itself or on the shift module.
• 900-degree wheel rotation: Turn 2.5 times around lock-to-lock, just as you would behind the wheel of many real cars.
• Ultra-precise optical encoding: A sensor constantly tracks the wheel, ensuring that any movement you make is reflected in-game, without dead zones or lag.
• Carpet grip system: Retractable teeth flip down to keep the pedals from sliding around on carpeting.
• Realistic 11” (28cm) wheel with leather-wrapped rim: Enjoy true-to-life racing experience from the start line to the checkered flag.
• Six-speed shifter with push-down reverse gear: Quickly select exactly the right gear for the turn or the straightaway.
• Steel gas, brake, and clutch pedals: Sturdy true-to-life pedals deliver precise throttle, braking, and shifting control for heightened realism.
• Steel ball bearings: Two sets of solid steel ball bearings support the wheel shaft, for superb performance and long-term reliability.
• Hard points: All three components (wheel console, pedals, and shifter module) can be bolted to a table other surface for a solid racing experience.
• Platform and game support: Works with PC, PlayStation®2, and PLAYSTATION®3 racing games, including Gran Turismo® 5 Prologue.

While the G27 has been improved in many ways, Logitech has lost one important feature, getting rid of the sequential gear shifter option which is very sad for sim racers that love to drive sports cars or touring car machinery. Furthermore, the cry for Xbox 360 compatibility has not been answered as the G27 is again confined to the PC and the Playstation 3.

Our friends over at SimHQ.com have written up an extensive review that is very much worth to be read. The Logitech G27 will go on sale in September, selling for 299 Euros/Dollars, the exact same price tag that Fanatec has put on their Porsche 911 GT3 RS wheel & Clubsport Pedal combo.

Below are two ultra high-resolution shots of the new wheel, letting you check out the new gear in full detail.

 

Jessica, Darin & Shaun of Insidesimracing.tv have unveiled what was shown covered up at the end of the last InsideSimRacing episode and it’s Logitech’s brand new G27 steering wheel indeed.

This special report reviews the brand new wheel and to make it even more special, the guys use Simbin’s upcoming RACE On to give Logitech’s newest product its first spin. Enjoy!

Fanatec’s aluminum Clubsport Pedals have received plenty of praise in the sim racing community, including a positive review here on VirtualR.

Good things can be always be made better though and to prove that, Rodney Davis aka. Wheel Nut has written up an extensive guide, showing how to invert the pedals without losing the Fanatec warranty.

His in-depth guide with plenty of high-resolution photos is a must-have read for every CSP owner or anyone planning to get the pedals in the future.

In related news, Turn 10’s Forza Motorsport 3 for Xbox 360 is expected to make use of the Clubsport Pedal’s ABS vibration, one of the set’s unique features.

Via GTForums.co.uk

VirtualR reader Jorge Okamoto has made a very interesting find earlier today, spotting the Logitech G27 steering wheel on the Brazilian Logitech site.

Much like the leaked G27 confirmation earlier this month, the page was removed quickly but Jorge was able to take a shot of it you can check out below.

The official site confirms that these shots of the G27 are indeed real, the wheel’s design does not differ a lot from the G25 despite some extra buttons and a bar of LEDs. Since several gaming magazines have already hinted to have a gotten their hands on a G27, an official announcement seems to be right around the corner. Stay tuned!

Update: Some more shots from the website addded, including some product close-ups.

 

ARC_Team has released a first video of their self-made Steering Wheel for the Logitech G25, showing the wheel and its display in action.

The ARC wheel will be available in several different versions, being made of carbon or aluminum and including extras such as different displays and a quick release mechanism.

Formula One driver Sebastien Buemi and Swiss Formula 2 driver Natacha Gachnang were on site at the Nürburgring, attending the “Faces of Forza” event.

Gachnang took journalists around the Ring in a Audi R8 and later proved her virtual driving skills, trying Forza 3 and Fanatec’s new Porsche Turbo S wheel.

Fanatec’s Thomas Jackermeier has made the video you can check out below, more photos of the event can be found here.

MMG has released new software for their MMG SimRDisplay 7X hardware unit, introducing a new interface and extending the device’s compatability.

Initially just working with rFactor, MMG’s data display now works with Life for Speed, ARCA Sim Racing and iRacing too. The new software is available on their new website, you have to sign-up to download the package though.

Download MMG SimRDisplay 7X New Software Here

We´ve already seen quite a lot of motion simulators that try to bring the forces of real racing to virtual motorsports. F1Showcar goes a step further, using a full blown Formula One showcar for their motion simulator.

The show car looks just like a real Formula One car, including an authentic livery. Equipped with a pc system, screen, a Logitech racing wheel and put on the motion platform, the car is turned into a full motion simulator that is able to accelerate up to 1.62g.

Of course, all this high tech glory does not come cheap as motion simulators from F1Showcar start at $30.000, coming with your choice of livery and wings. Below are photos and a video of the set in action, more info can be found on the F1Showcar website.

 

After several beta releases in their blog, Fanatec has now released a finished driver version for their Porsche steering wheels and Clubsport pedal set.

The drivers are available both as 32 bit and 64bit version and be downloaded on the Fanatec homepage here

The connections between real and virtual racing are getting closer in many aspects and here’s another story to prove that. Sim-Sport, a Florida-based company, has designed a line of hardware products, including pedals, steering wheel and a racing chassis.

The company is not just sponsor of Grand Am Koni Challenge driver Josh Hurley but works very closely with the Grand Am GT team Speedsource racing. Their line of products have been built to mimic the feel of the team’s Mazda RX-8, giving the drivers a perfect training tool.

Below are some shots of their racing chassis and the pedal set used by Josh Hurley. More info on Sim-Sport’s products can be found on their website.